Solidarity Lanes: European Union – Ukraine

EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes is an initiative launched by the European Commission (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency – CINEA) in May 2022. It aims to optimise and modernise traffic flows in terms of infrastructure, capacity, interoperability and service efficiency at the main border crossings between the European Union (EU) and Ukraine.

It was launched in response to the growing transport and logistics needs resulting from the geopolitical challenges posed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and seeks to increase the capacity, interoperability and efficiency of transport services on the border between Ukraine and EU territory.

According to Ukrainian customs records as of May 2022, Solidarity Lanes have enabled Ukraine to export around 126 million tonnes of goods. This includes approximately 71 million tonnes of agricultural products (66 million tonnes of grain, oilseeds and related products) and around 55 million tonnes of non-agricultural goods, such as ores, steel and related products.

Based on European Commission data a total of approximately 116 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain, oilseeds and related products were exported via Solidarity Lanes (57%) and Ukrainian Black Sea ports (43%) between May 2022 and February 2024.

The role of the Centre for EU Transport Projects (CEUTP) in implementing the Solidarity Lanes programme

Numerous infrastructure projects are being implemented within the CINEA Solidarity Lanes initiative, two of which are being implemented with Polish and Ukrainian partners. These projects are implemented under grant agreements to which CINEA, CEUTP and partners from Poland and Ukraine are signatories.

Both projects started in 2023 and will be completed in 2027. They are coordinated by the CEUTP, which ensures the monitoring of the progress of the work and the achievement of the milestones set, in agreement with the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, which in Poland acts as the Managing Authority for the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027 (CEF 2). The CEUTP, as coordinator, is also responsible for, among other things, the ex-ante evaluation of procurement and project documentation and the CFS audit for reporting purposes, as well as for the organisation of conferences, interim meetings and other types of meetings for both projects at international level.

EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes – Scope of projects

EU–Ukraine Solidarity Lanes. Optimisation and modernisation of transport flows in terms of infrastructure capacity, interoperability and efficiency of the services at the main PL/UA BCPs

The Project is coordinated by CEUTP and implemented by a Polish-Ukrainian consortium consisting of: General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad, GDDKiA), National Revenue Administration (Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa, KAS), Lublin Executive Board for Maintenance of Border Crossings (Lubelski Zarząd Obsługi Przejść Granicznych, LZOPG), State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (AgencyUA) together with its divisions in Lviv and Volhynia.

The main objective of the Project is to create and optimise the so-called Solidarity Lanes between the EU and Ukraine. The Project is implemented through activities such as: construction works for the S12 expressway – a component implemented by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), comprehensive design documentation for the freight terminal in Okopy – a component implemented by the Lublin Executive Board for Maintenance of Border Crossings, and modern IT solutions (i.e. a dedicated border clearance application) – a component implemented by the National Revenue Administration. Within the framework of the Project, the activities undertaken by the Ukrainian partners relate in particular to road infrastructure linked to border crossings: Yahodyn/Dorohusk, Rava Ruska/Hrebenne and Krakovets/Korczowa. The border crossings in question are the main links on the PL(EU)-UA border.

The GDDKiA component involves the design and construction of the S12 expressway in the section service area “Teosin” – Dorohusk (state border), covering approximately 5.33 km, including essential infrastructure. The Project also includes the purchase of properties necessary for road construction.

The Project is being carried out using a combination of infrastructural work and the most advanced IT solutions in order to develop an environmentally friendly cross-border road link within the comprehensive TEN-T road network. As a result, it is intended to provide an increase in the capacity of border crossings and facilitate traffic flow for different modes of transport.

EU-AU Solidarity Lanes – optimisation and modernisation of transport flows in terms of infrastructure capacity, interoperability and efficiency of BC services at the main PL/UA rail border crossings

The Project is coordinated by CEUTP and implemented by a Polish-Ukrainian consortium consisting of: PKP PLK S.A. and Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia).

The key task on the part of the Polish partner PKP PLK S.A. is the development of a Feasibility Study for the railway Lublin – Chełm – Dorohusk BCP – Yahodyn BCP – Kovel and a concept for the development of the border crossing area.  The tender procedure for the Feasibility Study (FS) was announced by PKP PLK S.A. on 11 March 2024, with tender opened on 4 June 2024 (nine tenders received). The planned date for the contract with the winner of the FS tender procedure is Q4 2024.

The Feasibility Study is divided into two parts:

• Part A will cover the railway line between Lublin and the PL/UA state border.
• Part B is a concept for the development of the Dorohusk/Yahodyn border crossing area.

The Ukrainian side, on the other hand, is responsible for, inter alia, the preparation of pre-project documentation on the basis of FS results on the section from the UA/PL border to Kovel (development of the FS for the extension of the railway line between the UA/PL border in Dorohusk/BC Jahodyn and Kovel), as well as short-term work on the railway line at the Yahodyn border crossing and on the railway line between Lyuboml, Matseiv and Kovel (revitalisation work).

Work is also envisaged on the railway line at the Mostyska I and Mostyska II border crossings, as well as the repair of transhipment equipment in Kovel, including the purchase and installation of an overhead crane for container handling at the multimodal terminal at Kovel station.

The activities carried out under both projects support the modernisation of transport infrastructure located in the core and comprehensive TEN-T network. The projects are in line with the objectives and priorities set out under the Connecting Europe Facility, from which they receive funding.